Compare towns
Avon vs Sutton vs Holbrook vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Avon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Holbrook has the most people working from home (12.1%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Avon | Sutton | Holbrook | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,774 |
790Lowest |
11,380Highest |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±4Lowest 4% below U.S. |
46.6±5.7Highest 20% above U.S. |
42.8±3.2 10% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Avon and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Avon and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $130,625±$33kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$115,210±$14k 43% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
| Avon and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $509,600±$62kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$231,100±$41kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$465,400±$21k 40% above U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
| Avon and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,558±$265Highest 10% above U.S. |
— | $1,094±$423 23% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Avon and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,627Highest 112% above U.S. |
$3,975Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,105 96% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Avon and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Holbrook and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #212 of 282 in MA | — | #234 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Avon | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Holbrook | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Avon Middle High School | None in town | Holbrook Middle High School | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
12.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.